Ok to keep a microfiber towel in the engine bay?

HAMBO

HAMBO

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Apologies in advance, as this Is quite a random question.

The air filter on my 67 Camaro seems to be just slightly high, and so is rubbing up against the fire insultation on the hood when the hood is closed. It results in dirt / shred from the hood liner staining the air filter.

I have polished the filter top and replaced the decals. I had left a black MF towel on top of the filter when I closed the hood when I parked the car to prevent the hood liner from scratching / mucking up the air filter lid. Any ideas whether it would be safe to drive with a towel on top of the air filter lid like that? Or is that just asking for trouble...

Again, sorry for the random question, but has to do with keep the engine clear and MF towels, so I figured why not turn to AG for an answer!

Thanks
 
•IMO:
-I sure wouldn’t.

-The air filter/housing shouldn’t be rubbing
the hood blanket. That is, unless you’ve done
a few underhood mods to the original set-up.
(Perhaps, the intake manifold adapter plate
is just a little too thick?)

-Then there’s always the option of removing
that hood blanket; and then “shining up”
the underside of the hood.


Bob
 
I certainly wouldn’t just for the fire hazard aspect.
 
Yeah, not a good idea to leave anything like that unsecured.

Even if it seems "pinched" between the air cleaner top and hood, it could become dislodged and either become a fire hazard by landing on an exhaust manifold, or becoming lodged in a belt.

To quote Bob.... "I sure wouldn't....."
 
something doesnt seem stock with your setup...either aftermarket liner or after market air filter housing...your car..so you know best

personally id remove the aftermarket mod and move on...
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone.

You are all correct in that the motor isn't stock. The prior owner who restored the car swapped in a 454 motor (original motor is likely long gone) and an aftermarket intake. I plan to ask my mechanic if there's anything he can do to adjust so it doesn't rub along the top.

In the meantime I am planning to use masking tape over the spot where it's rubbing to avoid any markings. Also thought maybe a piece of parchment paper with a little tape might be easier to take on and off than strips of masking tape. I tend to open the hood at car shows. Believe parchment paper is safe up to 400 degrees F. Think that'd be ok?
 
I've pyrometered exhaust manifold temps of over 800 degrees at the point they bolt to the heads on certain engines.

Just sayin'............
 
Setec Astronomy said:
That's about the fanciest word I've ever seen on this forum...
Click to expand...

Good to hear.......Not even sure if it was really a word. :laughing::laughing:

And.......... I guess you need to read more of Bob's posts. Fancy words a plenty!
 
maybe just a little thinner air cleaner?,on something like a big block I'd guess it has a big ol carb and probably a midrise manifold at the least so a thinner air cleaner might do it for you.

on the other hand a cowl induction hood from Jegs or Summit only runs between 200 and 500 $ depending on the rise.
 
id bring it to a mechanic...this is above n beyond detailing skillset problem...this is an engine bay issue...maybe its an easy fix and simply cutout part of the hood liner
 
Yo, Setec, mine survived a lightning strike and still works fine. :laughing:
 
I'd say this post has been thoroughly answered, but I normally keep a small micro-fiber in the bay for my trickle charger to rest upon. Of course the charger and the MF it's resting on comes out of the bay before driving off in the car. However there have been a few times I forgot to take out the MF and I was fortunate nothing happened.

Not to mention temps at operating level, but temps in general. Yesterday I burned my finger tips when I had to pop the hood of my Mustang. I left the front-end of the car outside the garage to expose the front-end. Using the AZ sun as a tool to heat clear-bra I wanted to remove. The SUN definitely works really good here in AZ. When I grabbed the hood latch (under the hood) it was HOT!!! and I had to drop the hood and get a wash mitt (used it like an oven mitt) just to raise the hood.

End of the story, it gets darn hot under there and all the materials have been engineered for that heat... An MF has not.
 
Thanks everyone. For now I’ll go with some foil with a little tape to keep it in place, but ya gotta check out why that’s happening and fix it.
 
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